The New World Translation reads John 4:23 “Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will WORSHIP THE FATHER with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him”. Jehovah’s Witnesses often cite this verse in support of their position that only God the Father -that is, Jehovah- is to be worshiped. Jesus, a lesser deity, is not to be worshiped.
Even though the same Greek word used to speak of worshiping Jehovah (PROSKUNEO) is used of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, the WTS says that the word is to be translated “obeisance” and not “worship” when used of Christ. Christ may be HONORED, but worship only to Jehovah God.
To begin, it is intriguing to note that at one time the WTS actually endorsed the worship of Jesus. An early issue of THE WATCHTOWER magazine said that “to worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong.” (Watchtower mag. March 1880, p. 83) Some years later, another issue of the magazine said, “Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshipped, and properly so. While he was not THE God, Jehovah, he was A God.”(Watchtower mag. 15 May 1892, p. 1410)
Then many years later, The Watchtower mag. Dogmatically stated that “ it is unscriptural for worshipers of the living and true God to render worship to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.”(Watchtower mag. 1 November 1964 p. 671) They warn: Do not erroneously conclude that Christians are to worship Christ; that is not what he taught.”(Watchtower mag. 15 July 1959, p. 421)
* Why did the early issues of The Watchtower Mag. Say that we should worship Jesus while later issues say we should not worship Him?
* Since later issues of The Watchtower said it is “unscriptural” to worship Christ, does that mean the earlier issues of The Watchtower were “unscriptural”?
* What does this major reversal say about the Watchtower Society’s claim to be a true prophet of God?
2007-10-27
16:54:58
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8 answers
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Blueryno
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Religion & Spirituality